Paleo Meal Replacement Shakes – December, 2018 Reviews & Buyers Guide

Even if you’re newly on a paleo diet, you can still find plenty of options when it comes to paleo diet meal replacement shakes.

You may automatically assume that you can’t indulge, wondering “are there paleo replacement shakes out there?” But never fear. There are several delicious paleo meal replacement shakes out there, and we’re going to help you find the very best.

First, we’ll take a look at foods that you can’t eat if you’re new to the paleo diet. If you’ve been paleo for a while, this will at least serve as a good refresher. And if you’re new to paleo, then this is a necessary discussion to have.

Then, we’ll note which inclusions are most important in your search for the best paleo meal replacement shakes before diving in and taking a look at the best meal replacement shakes for a paleo diet.

If you’re new to the paleo diet…

The paleo diet is a dietary plan that recently exploded in popularity and aims to encourage humans to adjust their diets to align more closely with natural, farm-fresh foods and eliminate preservatives and additives.

The diet was designed after what people are thought to have eaten during the Paleolithic era over 10,000 years ago. That means fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean, healthy meats. In other words, only foods that could be and were acquired via hunting and gathering prior to the rise in prevalence of dairy and grains.

It certainly makes finding supplements just a bit more complicated, but probably not as difficult as you might think. Prior to what your preconceived notion might be, let’s look at the specifics that you should keep an eye out for as the shopping begins.

Information to know when looking for the best paleo meal replacement shakes

Generally speaking, the best meal replacement shakes are high in calories and protein to ensure that your body is feeling full after replacing an entire meal with a drink. Additionally, they work together to give your body an optimal amount of energy.

If you lead a busy, on-the-go lifestyle that necessitates fast meals and not a lot of time for sitting down to enjoy an extensive breakfast or lunch, then you’re looking in the right spot. Meal replacement shakes are nutritious and delicious — you just have to be sure to make the right selection.

Remember, meal replacement shakes should be high in calories in order to give your body the necessary fuel and overall energy. Protein is a vital compound for building and maintaining lean muscle, making it the next-most important inclusion in paleo-friendly meal replacement shakes.

Of the two categories, protein should come fairly naturally in paleo-friendly supplements just based on what is typically included in paleo products. Calories are another story, and you’ll soon see that there are a handful of paleo meal replacement shakes that are relatively low in calories.

We’ll also keep an eye out for additional nutrients that function as bonuses in meal replacement shakes; if we can find some extra benefits here or there, we’ll take them.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best meal replacement shakes for a paleo diet.

Ample Meal

Ample’s original formula for their Ample Meal shake is completely paleo-friendly, as it includes all-natural ingredients, plus is entirely non-GMO and free of BPA and artificial sweeteners and is soy-free and gluten-free.

The shakes are plenty filling, as they are 400 calories with just four grams of sugar included. Ample Meal is 54 percent premium, healthy fats, and 27 percent protein, further checking the is-my-stomach-full box. All inclusions are organic.

As for flavor, Ample Meal is frothy and creamy with notes of vanilla and cinnamon that contribute a hint of sweetness. The product is pre-portioned in bottles that just need to have cold water or milk added in order to be ready to drink. This eliminates the need for a gigantic container of powder yet ensures the freshness and quality of a product that doesn’t simply come ready-to-drink.

Fit 365

Fit 365 Gourmet Shakes contain only all-natural and organic ingredients, with the Fit 365 Delicious Gourmet Meal clocking in as both paleo and keto-friendly. It’s all gluten-free, non-GMO and soy-free. There are no artificial ingredients, flavors, or sweeteners,.

Ingredients in Fit 365 Delicious Gourmet Meal include 21 grams of native grass-fed whey protein and six grams of organic coconut milk per serving, plus six grams of plant-based fiber that assists in curbing your appetite and helping you feel full for hours. Other benefits include plenty of probiotics per serving to contribute to improved gut health, as well as low-glycemic qualities to allow your body to maximize its absorption of nutrients.

There’s also grass-fed colostrum for immune system enhancement and a full-spectrum digestive enzyme blend. Other ingredients include Himalayan pink salt and sunflower lecithin.

Fit 365 distributes its product in 14.1-gram containers with seven servings each and is available in three flavors: Vanilla Bean, Gourmet Chocolate, Caramel Coffee Fitaccino.

Pros and Cons

Paleo and keto-friendly, no artificial ingredients, flavors, or sweeteners

Non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy-free

High in fiber (three grams per serving) and protein (21 grams per serving)

Rootz

Protein Superfood from Rootz is paleo-approved and keto-friendly. It’s made from real superfoods, too, and is gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. The product is also non-GMO and includes zero added sugar and artificial ingredients or additives.

As far as what this product from Rootz does include, it has ample protein, electrolytes, and green detox blends that assist in providing the nutrients that your body needs. This includes delicious greens, fiber, and berries.

Rootz’ Protein Superfood is a low-calorie meal replacement option, only including 93 calories per serving -- easily the lowest-calorie option we reviewed for this list. While it does include 14 grams of protein per serving and is advertised as a meal replacement option, it’s generally a lower number of calories than is ideal in a meal replacement shake.

Protein Superfood from Rootz is only available in chocolate banana nut flavor and is delivered in a 20-ounce container with 20 servings a pop.

Designs For Health

Pure PaleoMeal by Designs For Health quells any concerns about whether or not it’s paleo-friendly simply by its name.

In addition to that, it has no hormones and is non-GMO and gluten-free. Plus, Pure PaleoMeal is nutrient-dense with 17 grams of complete protein per serving, healthy fats, and a low-glycemic impact -- important for allowing your body to process nutrients slowly, ensuring complete absorption.

And speaking of complete absorption, Pure PaleoMeal includes HydroBEEF, which is produced through a proprietary process beginning with beef sourced from hormone and GMO-free cows raised in Sweden. Then, the HydroBEEF goes through an exclusive hydrolysis and ultra-filtration process, allowing the protein to be hydrolyzed or split into a high concentration of functional peptides. This allows for easier absorption in the body.

As a company, Designs For Health has an impressive track record when it comes to their ingredient selection and is a widely-preferred physician’s choice when it comes to strength supplements.

Pure PaleoMeal can be purchased in either chocolate or vanilla in a 1.1-pound container with 15 servings to be enjoyed.

Primal Kitchen

Primal Kitchen promotes its Primal Fuel Whey Protein Powder as paleo-friendly, as it includes balanced and healthy whey protein isolate without any added sugar whatsoever outside of the two grams of natural sugar in each serving.

The product has only the highest-quality fats — including fat from coconut milk — with low carbohydrates and sugar. Additionally, Primal Fuel contributes to keeping insulin levels low.

The whey protein isolate assists in both promoting the growth of lean muscle mass and curbing your body’s hunger. As the gold standard in protein powders, it is also the primary source of protein in Primal Fuel and has the highest bioavailability of any form of protein.

In terms of added benefits, Primal Kitchen’s product uses inulin from chicory root that contributes to the support of healthy gut bacteria and overall digestive health. It’s not every day that you’ll find a product that includes important prebiotics to promote gut health.

You can pick up Primal Kitchen’s Primal Fuel Whey Protein Powder in either chocolate or vanilla coconut. It comes in a two-pound container that includes 21 servings. The only real downside is that each serving is only 190 calories, but the high levels of protein and quality fats should still help adequately mitigate hunger.

Complete Life Nutrition

Complete Life Nutrition’s Clean Lean Low-Carb Replacement Shake is a paleo meal replacement shake that is packed with vitamin B and includes zero artificial sweeteners.

The shakes are made with all-natural ingredients and are not only allergen-free (no soy, gluten, corn, or dairy) but sugar-free as well. It helps cleanse your liver and remove unwanted toxic wastes from your body, as well as uses glutamine to help replenish your body after exercise. It also includes an impressive 15 grams of protein per serving.

The Clean Lean Low-Carb Replacement Shake includes pea protein powder that assists in rapid absorption. Simply add water, almond milk, or coconut milk and the shake is ready to drink.

You’ll find Complete Life Nutrition’s product in dutch chocolate flavor and in a 1.2-pound container with 28 servings to be made. They also back the product with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

JJ Virgin

JJ Virgin’s Paleo-Inspired All-In-One Shake is, of course, paleo-friendly. It includes 21 grams of pure paleo protein and just one gram of sugar, as well as managing to stay allergen-free with zero dairy, gluten, corn, soy or eggs. There is also no artificial sweeteners or flavorings.

Also, if you’re a hardcore fan of a paleo or keto diet and want all the benefits of bone broth without the meaty taste -- or the hassle, for that matter -- than JJ Virgin’s paleo meal replacement shake is perfect for you.

The shake is 97 percent pure hydrolyzed protein from beef and includes naturally-occurring branched chain amino acids, or BCAAs as well as collagen-specific amino acids. The beef is derived from cows raised in Sweden that are raised with non-GMO feed.

In addition to the 21 grams of protein per serving, there is seven grams of fiber and five real-food fruits and vegetables. The supplement is available in vanilla or chocolate.

Pros and Cons

Cave Shake

Cave Shakes are designed for keto, paleo, and vegan diets and come ready-to-drink in an easy, single-serve container.

The product is gluten-free, dairy-free, and certified organic with no added sugar. Cave Shakes are loaded with MCTs and high-quality fats that provide sustained energy without having to weigh your body down with carbohydrates.

Cave Shakes include a maximum of six clean ingredients and can be stored at room temperature for up to six months. They’re best served chilled, and are only available in chocolate flavor. There are a solid 310 calories but only three grams of protein per serving.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen, there are plenty of paleo-friendly meal replacement shakes out there to match your diet. Let’s talk through a few final thoughts.

That said, be sure to always, always, always double-check nutritional labels to make sure that the inclusions match your diet. If you’re on a standard paleo diet, most supplements will be noted as such, but it’s still best to look and be sure.

One of the key things to keep in mind about meal replacement shakes for paleo diets is that they tend to be lower in calories due to some items that are excluded in comparison to non-paleo shakes. Some of the shakes on our list are probably best supplemented with healthy fruits, veggies, or nuts. If you roll with too-few calories, you may get hungrier quicker and be more susceptible to over-consuming additional calories.

Most of the selections on this list have plenty of protein included, but that’s another item on the nutrition label that you’ll want to make sure is sufficient. The products on our list have most frequently been in the 12 to 17 grams range when it comes to protein, but there were a couple of options north of 20 grams. Again, if it’s a paleo-friendly product, protein should generally be less of a concern.

A decent number of the above-listed products included prebiotic or probiotic ingredients to help with gut health — something that’s far more rare in non-paleo meal replacement diet shakes. In terms of other bonus additions, there are a handful of supplements that include real fruits and veggies or superfoods.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before you haul off and make any major changes to your diet or exercise routine. Even if you’ve consumed plenty of meal replacement shakes in your day, it’s important to note that a paleo diet and paleo-friendly meal replacement shakes are an additional step that should be cleared with your physician.

Final words of wisdom: double-check labels, and make sure you’re ordering the quantities and flavors that you desire. Happy shake-ing!